Improvement in fence-posts



L. LIGHTFOOT.

FENCE-POST.

Patented Jan. 18,1876. No. 172,460. i

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IMPROVEMENT IN FENCE-POSTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 172,460, dated January 18,1876; application filed December 16, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUKE LIGHTFOOT, of Walnut, in the county ot' .Pottawatomie and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofbreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a vertical transverse section of the fence-post, with the wire-stretching rod inserted. Fig. 2 shows the lattter detached, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the post, showing the brace block and rod.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts in all the figures.

This invention consists, first, in the construction ot' a hollow iron fence-post, to be used either with a wire or board fence; and, second, in the combination of said post with the attachments hereinafter described, for stretching the wire, if it be used in a wire fence, all as hereinafter more fully explained.

In the drawing, A is the post. This is made of iron, and of the shape shown in the drawing, viz., tapering from the fiange a, which is to rest upon the surface of the ground, toward both ends. It is hollow, and has a number ot' perforations, c, for the purpose of reducing its weight. Below flange a, and at some distance from its base, it has another flange, B, `which is for the purpose of keeping it iirmly in the ground when set. Down the sides of the posts, at equal distances from each other, are four series of slots, e, in .which the boards are inserted when a board fence is erected. Between the slots e are perforations d, through which the wires of a wire fence may be passed. Only two series of perforations are usually required, the remaining only being used when corners are turned. It may, therefore, be desirable to cover one of the series with a Welt, f, having perforations g, that admit of the easier passage of the fence-wire. This, however, is only to be used on such posts where the wire is not to be tightened. For the purpose of tightening the wire I employ the cylindrical rod I, to one end of which is pivoted the bent arm G. Rod I has a series of perforations, t', of a distance from each other equal to that between the perforations d in the post. The rod is inserted into the 'post through the opening in the top, g, it being braced, when inserted, by annular projections p, on the inside of the post, and the wire passed through perforations d in the post and t in the rod. This is then turned by means of the arm G, until the wire is sufficiently stretched, when the arm G is turned down flush with the side of the post, where it may be tied down to prevent its turning back.

In order to prevent the post A, while the wire is being stretched, from giving way and leaning over to the side, I brace it with the rod K, one end of which I insert into one of the perforations in the posts, and the other into a mortise, m, in the block M, which is for this purpose sunk in the ground a`t a suitable distance from the post. Block M is preferably made of cast-iron, and it may be of any suitable shape.

Having thus described my invention, I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesl. The fence-post herein described, consistingof the hollow iron body A, having' exterior anges a B, slots e, perforations d, and interior annular flanges p, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

2. In combination with the fencepost herein described, the wiretightening device, consisting of the rod I, having perlbrations t', and pivoted bent arm Gr, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LUKE LIGHTFOOT.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM CARNET, SCOTT SANKEY. 

